Method for modifying conventional snow skiis to permit downhill skiing on smooth grassy slopes during non-winter periods



Aug. 4, 1970 c. M. TYSON ,5

METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONAL SNOW SKIIS TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIINGON SMOOTH GRASSY SLOPES DURING NON-WINTER PERIODS Filed Sept. 16. 1968 2Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2

mvnmon CHARLES M. TYSON Q In 025% f5 ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970 c. M. TYSON3,522,951

METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONAL SNOW SK TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIING ONSMOOTH GRASSY 5 ES DURING NON-WINTER PERIODS Filed Sept. 16, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 2 mvnmon CHARLES M. TYSON ATTORNEYS United States PatentOffice 3,522,951 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONALSNOW SKIIS TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIING ON SMOOTH GRASSY SLOPES DURING NON-WINTER PERIODS Charles M. Tyson, 1300 Army-Navy Drive, Apt. 529,Arlington, Va. 22202 Filed Sept. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 759,891 Int. Cl.A63c 17/04 US. Cl. 280-111 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amodification of conventional downhill snow skiis in such a manner as topermit the wearer to engage in the sport of skiing during non-winterperiods, on grassy slopes. The modification comprises an array oflightweight ball type rollers, roller-bearings and skate wheels afiixedto the running surface of the-skiis, said rollerbearings facilitatingmulti-directional skidding or sideslipping, and said skate wheelspermitting controlled movement in a desired direction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION The central idea is the modification ofconventionally configured snow skiis by afiixing an array of smallcommercially produced roller-bearings and skate wheels to the runningsurface of the skiis in such a manner as to meet the object of providinga practical means for skiing during non-winter periods on reasonablysmooth grassy slopes. The object of this invention encompasses twopossible commercial applications:

(1) The manufacture of special summer skiis fitted at the factory withthe required roller-bearings and skate wheels, and

(2) The production of a kit containing roller-bearing and skate wheelplates to be mounted by the individual on his own winter skiis, and thenbe removed at will.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The object of the roller-ski will be apparentwith reference to the appended drawings and the following descriptionwherein:

FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of a conventional snow ski withthe roller-bearings and skate wheels mounted;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a section of the roller-ski showing aprofile of the roller-bearings and skate wheels;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view cross-section of the left roller-skishowing the heighth differential between roller-bearings and skatewheels;

'FIG. 4 afiords a bottom view of a section of the roller-ski showing thedetailed array of roller-bearing and skate wheel plates;

FIG. 5 is a rear view cross-section of both skiis illustrating howweight on the skate wheels controls direction; and

FIG. 6 shows an optional method of mounting removable plates ofroller-bearings and skate wheels.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 6 attached to a ski.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Downhill skiing entails two general types ofmovements: (a) a skidding or slide-slipping movement in which thedirection of movement is other than the direction of the skiis, and (b)a precisely controlled movement in a desired direction achieved byexerting the preponderance of body weight on the inner edge of the loweror downhill ski. In the roller-ski, an array of roller-bearings permitsthe necessary side-slipping movements, and a series of fixed skatewheels provides the means for. controlling movement in a particulardirection. FIG. 1 shows the general silhouette of the conventional skiwhen equipped with such roller-bearings 2 and skate wheels 3. FIG. 2 isan enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1 and shows an exploded profile ofthe roller-bearing plate 4 and skate wheel plate 5 when affixed to therunning surface of the ski. FIG. 3 is a rear view crosssection of theleft ski illustrating the relative position and heighth of theroller-bearings 2 and skate wheels 3.

Roller-bearings Roller-bearing plates 4 consist of a series oflightweight hard plastic or Cycolac balls 2 approximately inch wide,Teflon-coated to insure minimum friction and fully encased to insurethat dirt does not inhibit free rolling. (Well lubricated lightweightsteel bearings are a feasible alternative, although the increase-dweight is a disadvantage to the skier.) Roller-bearing plates 4 arescrewed into the bottom surface of the ski 6, and cover the outsidetwo-thirds width of the ski and almost its entire length (FIG. 4). Thespecific number of roller-bearing rplates required is variable,depending upon the length of the skiis. However, by mounting the maximumnumber of roller-bearings to reduce the ground pressure of any singlebearing, the weight of the skier will be sufficiently distributed topermit free multi-directional movement or side-slipping over mostsurfaces other than spongy ground, high grass, or rocky terrain.

Skate wheels Small steel or Cycolac skate wheels 3 are mounted on wheelplates 5, and affixed along the inside edge of each ski so that thewheel rolls in the longitudinal direction of the ski (FIG. 4). Theseskate wheels are /2 inch in diameter and have approximately inch ofrunning surface or width. The skate wheels do not pivot or spring, butinstead are rigidly mounted to run in a forward direction. Each wheel ismounted so that its running surface is approximately of an inch abovethe running surface of the adjacent roller-bearings (FIG. 3). Thisheighth differential insures that the skate wheels along the inside edgeof the ski do not drag when the skier, with his weight on the center ofthe skiis, is using the roller-bearings for skidding or side-slipping.It is important to note that when the skier desires to slow his downhillmovement and change direction by traversing laterally across the face ofa slope, as shown in FIG. 5, he can do so by shifting his weight to theinner edge of the downhill ski 7, thus engaging the rigid skate wheels 3which bite into the turf and prevent downhill side-slipping.

Mounting In the prefabricated roller-ski, the roller-bearing plates 4and the skate wheel plates 5 are inset and screwed into the bottomsurface 6 of the skiis to provide a flush smooth surface, as illustratedin FIG. 4. The skate wheel plate must include an unusually strong wheelfork and axle since the skate wheel is subjected to considerable weightand stress during any change in the skiers direction.

In the manually prepared or kit version of the rollerski shown in FIG.6, double-length roller-bearing and skate wheel plates 8 include aseries of hinged clamps 9 and set screws 10, to permit the individual tosecure the plates to his conventional snow skiis 11.

It shoud be noted that in both versions of the rollerski, the requiredroller-bearings and skate wheels, as well as the plates and mountingdevices, can be fabricated from commercial materials now in existence.

Preparation of skiing slope The roller-ski is not claimed as asubstitute for the rapid and smooth type of downhill skiing experiencedin snow, nor as a practical device for negotiating slopes which arecompletely unprepared. For optimum results with the roller-ski, slopeswould have to be cleared of such obstacles to smooth running as surfacetree roots, heavy deposits of rocks, and thick Weed growth. Withreasonable preparation of this type, it is visualized that theroller-ski would afford both the ski resorts and the skier the advantageof several additional months of skiing each year, or perhaps year-roundskiing in those areas where the ground remains firm.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the roller-skiherein disclosed may be subject to mechanical modifications andsubstitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. Theconcept of this invention is intended to include all obviousmodifications and substitutions.

I claim:

1. A roller ski for use on reasonably smooth slopes in the absence ofsnow comprising:

(a) a ski member having an upper surface with bindings for attachment toa wearers foot, a lower sliding or running surface, and an inner andouter edge;

(b) a plurality of ball-type rollers rotatably afiixed to the outerportion of the lower surface of the said ski member;

(c) a plurality of skate wheels affixed to the lower surface of the saidski member, adjacent the inner edge thereof; said wheels disposed inlongitudinal alignment, the axis of rotation of said wheels beingperpendicular to longitudinal axis of said ski memher.

2. The roller ski of claim 1 further comprising at least one rollermounting plate, the lower surfaces of said plate rotatably mounting aplurality of said ball-type rollers in mutualy spaced parallel rows; theupper surface of said plate afiixed to the lower surface of said skimember; said plate extending laterally along the lower surace of saidski member from the outer edge toward the inner edge thereofapproximately two-thirds of the width of said ski member.

3. The roller ski of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of saidroller mounting plates affixed to the lower surface of said ski member,said plates being afiixed in mutually spaced relationship extendinglongitudinally from the head of said ski member to the toe thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,012 8/1941 Benner et al.2,485,756 10/ 1949 Meehan 2807.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 602,592 8/ 1960 Canada. 800,880 5/1936 France.

2,378 1910 Great Brat-aim. 21,056 1898 Great Britain. 443,881 1936 GreatBritain.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner

